The %'s in our lives...

40% of things we worry about, will not happen.

30% of the things we worry about, have already happened. Nothing in the world is going to change what already has happened.

12% of the things we worry about are needless imaginings about our health. Do I have cancer? Is that a tumor I feel? My leg hurts. My daddy died of a heart attack when he was sixty, and I'm 59.

10% of our worries are petty-little-nothings about what other people think. And we can't do nothing about what other people think.

8% is left over...for legitimate concerns. Please note that usually these legitimate concerns are things that can be dealt with.

The above percentages are from a wonderful book I am reading called The Noticer: Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective, by Andy Andrews. It is an easy, but powerful read; told in novel form about an old man who visits a town that shares with folks in need, the perspective they need to have better lives. The author shares some of his own story, of losing both parents in a relatively short period of his life, ending up living under a state park pier, when he gets visited by Jones, the old man with unique perspectives on all things life.

I highly recommend this book.

Paz,

Eradio

Curiosity

This is borrowed from an interview with Tiger Tyagarajan, CEO of Genpact. (Numbering as added by me)

Question: What are you looking for? (In regards to hiring but this applies to all things)

Answer: "The single biggest quality I look for is the ability and desire to learn. Are you a really curious person? If you are, then you learn. If you're not, then you won't learn.

And curiosity opens up so many other windows.

1. You're more inclusive.

2. You question more.

3. You listen.

"In today's world, if you're not curious, you're dead, because every day is so different from yesterday. In an interview, I want to know whether you are willing to exhibit all the qualities to learn, and are you willing to spend the blood, sweat and tears to learn? How important is that for you? Some me some examples of that.

"One thing that comes with curiosity is sheer passion, and that can neutralize many other shortcomings. You make make a lot of mistakes. You may end up going down the wrong paths. You make have to make decisions that are based on not enough information. How are you going to convince people to follow you? If you don't have passion, you're not going to be convinced yourself, and if you don't wear that on your sleeve, how are other people going to be charged up to go in that direction?

"They actually depend on what you're telling them, because they may not also have all the answers. And hard work and persistence have to start with passion, because if you don't love what you do, it's not going to work."

The N Y Sunday Times, Corner Office, Business Section, 7/13/14

Demonstrations

Demonstrations have a place in society; some have a place in demonstrations. But the greatest demonstration is that of love for one another, esp. to those deemed unwanted by society.

Generous Giving

I have a guilty pleasure. I like to watch Million Dollar Listing New York. In my previous life I was a salesperson, and for the 38 years I've been a pastor I have been a salesperson of the most wonderful and awesome "product" the world has ever seen and needed; a loving and trusting relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I like to keep keen my sales instincts and this show provides a little of that. True, they make way more money than 85% of our churches in one sale. The "they" I'm speaking about are the three main characters of the show. Fredik Eklund, Luis Ortiz, and Ryan Serhant. Fredik is from Sweden and makes the most money. Luis is from Puerto Rico and is the youngest cast member and realtor in the show. Ryan is from the Midwest and does okay for himself. They seek to set records in the sales of the properties they list, and they usually do. They know how to present a sale and how to say and do the right things to bring about a sale.

Long story short: The last show of the season was a behind the scenes look at video that did not make it on the show. And part of that was when the three decided what to do with their money. Fredik, in talking with his assistant, said he wanted to help a charity. He did this while eating sushi and his assistant told him he should give up sushi. Fredik asked how much the meal was worth that he was eating. Fifty dollars, replied the assistant. "Fifty dollars? For this?" asked Fredik, "How much is that a year?" The assistant in doing math in his head, estimated it was about $20,000 per year for one meal. "Well, cut a check for $20,000 for that gift I want to make!"

Luis, after having made a huge commission on an apartment he sold, in talking with the camera said he wanted to reward himself. Next, we see him in the studio of a famous New York artist who sells huge paintings of different things. Given Luis' Latino background, the artist suggested a painting of a matador. The price? $85,000. Luis talked him down to $65,000 and walked off with it.

Ryan ordered a telescoping iPhone holder so he could take selfies of himself without it seeming like he was doing it himself.

A sharp contrast in personalities and gifts. Which of these was truly the most generous? You decide. Which gift was sacrificial? Again, you decide. Which, Jesus asked, gave of himself and all that he had?

Come Unto Me, All Who Are Heavy Laden

Image from agnusday.org

And I Will Give You Rest

From the New King James Version of Matthew 11: 16-19; 25-30: But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: 'We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children." At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Jesus compared the generation of people for whom He came as a generation much like marketplace children. While their parents tended their shops or while they shopped, the kids would taunt other kids. The saying Jesus uses is one to tease those who were not aware of much, children who did not know what to do or how to react. The ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus were not understood and many did not know what to do or how to react. The taunts were a bit harsher with accusations running from demon possession to drunkenness and influence by bad company. But the truth was, Jesus say, that God was revealing to "babes" the things of God's Kingdom among them. Those whom the world believed had no clue, indeed had the keys to the kingdom. Those who were "heavy laden" would find in Jesus' message and teachings, "rest." Being yoked to Jesus would mean having an understanding no one else would; and a rest for souls that the world could not match.

Nellie and I were reflecting on the impact God is already having on our grandson Liam's life at this point. While his mom works on Sunday, Liam usually ends up making long trips with grandma and grandpa, usually to things he would not normally choose. Yesterday was such a day. We worshipped here in Corpus Christi, then we felt led to take a nursing student to lunch. We then drove to Cuero, Texas, for a five o'clock dedication service of their new organ and we sang and sang. We sang what I called the "newer Doxology" that has in it several "Alleluias," and we heard a community choir sing the Hallelujah Chorus. As we left the church he could not stop singing "Alleluia, Alleluia," and even asked if I had in my iPod "that church song with the alleluia?" I do have the Hallelujah Chorus and played it several times on our way to Beeville where we greeted the young workers of the UM Army in town to do repair work on several homes. His singing of alleluia I believe, is rest for his young soul. He's being exposed to worship experiences that others are not. My prayer is that his soul never depart from that understanding and relationship that he has or will have with Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. In Christ we find rest for our souls; an understanding and acceptance that the world cannot and tries not to match. In Christ there is a pace and a peace that everyone needs and should have. And guess what? It's ours for the asking.

PRAYER: Lord, the demands of life on my soul can be taxing at times, but I thank You that in You I can find the pace and the peace that I need. Help me to receive it, and more importantly, help me to share it. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Conviction

The Apostle Paul wrote, "I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some." (1 Cor. 19:22). He was describing the need to reach all people and experiencing and living what they lived. Earlier, Jesus said, "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.'" (Mat. 5:37). This was shared in relation to people feeling the need to swear to have people believe them. I was guilty of that on the grounds of my elementary school. "Cross my heart and hope to die!" Or "I swear on a stack of Bibles!" But what is conviction, and why is that important in the life of a believer? Conviction is standing for that which one believes is of God and God's righteousness, and never wavering from that. If the situation calls for one to say "yes" when a yes is required, then Christ would say for us to say yes and stand by that yes. If the situation required our saying "no," then we would need to say no and stand by the no and all the reasons behind it.

For the pastor who believes one must please all people, don't. There is only One whom we seek to please and that is the One who sent us into the joys of ministry and serving. We are called to stand on our convictions and rely on prayer, reflection, study of scripture, and honest searching to help us know where we are to stand. In all things of course we stand on God's love and grace, and that we should offer to all people; but we should not be afraid to hurt someone's feelings if we have to say no or yes, when they are expecting or demanding the opposite.

As parents we have had to stop being our child's friend, to say yes or no when they expected or demanded a no or a yes. Years later, they will understand and realize that because of our love we had to stand firm on what we believed to be best for their development and growth.

As humans we will make mistakes. Seek to err on the side of God.

Passion

I'm reading a book called "The Promise of a Pencil" by Adam Braun. It is an extraordinary book about a wonderful response by this young man to a global need. I won't say more because I believe you should read it. But I do want to quote something Mr. Braun wrote about passion. He was in his early years of his career, which he did not like; seeking to make lots of money in New York City before going and doing what he wanted, but a friend told him that that was the wrong approach. If he worked for twenty years and then tried to do his passion, he's have children and a mortgage. So, that night he was invited to hear the New York Philharmonic. He had never been to the symphony before and the sounds of that night mesmerized him. What intrigued him was that as people performed they left the stage to thunderous applause, and then an oversized man sat at the grand piano to play. Mr. Braun wondered if just one person could stir the same wonderful response that the entire symphony had done.

"The pianist began playing the concerto, starting with soft melodies that soon became soaring harmonies. Thunderous sounds poured from the piano. This man was crushing the keys and swaying with such force that the few hairs on his head flew from side to side. As an audience, we hung on his every note. I closed my eyes and could hear the passion he brought to his craft. I thought, if I could feel as strongly about any one things in the world as this man feels about his piano, I know I would be fulfilled.

Whatever you do in your role in the church, are you doing it with passion? Are you fulfilling God's call upon your life as well as stirring something in the people with whom you work? If you're a Sunday school teacher or small group leader, can the others in your class or group feel the passion you have for God and for the subject matter you are sharing/teaching? If you're a pastor, when you preach, do you preach with passion that shares the contagious and excitement that should be in every message of good news?

Passion is what comes from the deep rooted love we should have for what we do because of the great love we have for God and God has for us.